Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-01-15


terminated. Observations in most
parts Of the country show Chat tnc
owners of farms are inclined to make
hard terms for their tenants. that the
latter are generally careless, and that
the farms themselves run down on
their hands. Especially is this the
case when farms are leased for short
periods, as from year to year.
The land question is keeping the
people ofthe British islands in con
slant state of trouble. Intense Bit
terness and hatred have been engen-
dered in Ireland on account Of the
system of leasing farm property
The troubles originating there have
reached Scotland and Wales and now
threaten England. Legislation APP
pears to have no effect, though par
liment has passed several bills with
view of making the relations be.
tween landlord and tenant more
satisfactory. Rents have generally
lowered, but the tenants complains
as bitterly as before. Landlords
have suffered severely, and many of
them have been ruined. In almost
every part Of the United Kingdom
the price of farming land has fallen
at time when other property has
advanced. Tenants complain that
under the system of fixed cash rents
every risk, every liability, every
hazard, falls upon them
The landlord, however, is secured
in his income. He does not suffer
from floods, droughts, insects, poor
crops, or low markets. He receives
just as much rent during a season
when the tenant makes nothing as
when he is fairly or remarkably
prosperous. For the landlord there
is certainty for the tenant there is
uncertainty.
A former citizen Of Bosnia, now
residing in England, states that q
land system exists in that country
as well as in Herzegovina which is
entirely satisfactory to both land
lords and tenants. This is so, not
withstanding the fact that the land
lords are of different race and re-
ligion from those Of the tenants.
The farmers are almost without eX-
ception Mohammedan Turks, while
the latter are Greek Christians. The
system is cooperative one, and
has existed without change for cen
turtles. Under this Turkish system
the landlord and tenant are partners
and all their interests are in common.
The understanding is that the part
nership is perpetual and is not ter
minated by the death of one of the
parties. His heirs succeed to his
place, and in some instances estates
have remained in one family for
more than century. Such regard
is felt for the sacredness of their OBJ
legations and the justice of the land
system that tenants in revolt against
the government, and consequently
against their landlords, pay their
rent as promptly as in times of
peace. Such was the case during
the Russo-Turkish war and during
several rebellions before and since
that time. The system briefly stated
is as follows: The land is never
leased on fixed cash rents, and in
the leases money payment is never
mentioned. The landlord receives
annually a certain share of the pro-
duce in kind if he suspects his tenant
or has use for the articles produced,
but if he has faith in him, and desires
money instead of grain, fruit or meal,
he allows him to sell the products
and to pay him the value of his
share. The leases are drawn by the
local magistrates and are held by
them. The share Of the landlord
depends on the nature of the land,
the imnroyements on it. and the